SMART goals: what is it and how to set it?

Business people are used to setting goals. Those who are trying to live by the rules and are always at a certain height in society also strive for this. However, just setting a goal is not enough. In this case, it is still necessary to take any actions that will lead to this goal. Any action leading to success must be carried out as planned. The goal-setting technology called SMART will certainly help in this matter.

Before proceeding to the main question, it is necessary to determine the meaning of the word SMART Goals. By and large, this is a unifying abbreviation that is used in management. Its concept is to establish certain criteria that the ultimate goal must meet.. SMART technology has long been applied when it comes to large projects. If we talk about the history of occurrence, then this development appeared in 1965. It was created by motivation specialist D. Meyer.

A very talented master managed to develop a method that allows 100% to achieve the desired result. The methodology works very simply, as it has specifics that apply even to the smallest detail that inevitably leads to the goal. No need to think that this technique is intended only for super-large projects. In fact, it has long been used in all areas of our lives.

If we begin to study it, then any sane person will enjoy this process. In addition, you can easily create a plan that will help bring your goal to fruition. The principle is simple - it is necessary to create a system of actions that becomes the most correct. For example, this technology can be used primarily for those people who want to change their life by 180 degrees.

What are they afraid of? First of all, lose what they have. Not everyone will decide to abandon a more or less prosperous life in favor of invisible prospects. However, at the same time, a person who has decided to redraw his life no longer wants and cannot act according to the previous rules. What to do? You need to draw up a certain plan of thoughts that will definitely lead you to a true result.

And remember the choice of desire is a process that only at first glance seems very easy. But as soon as you begin to engage in the formulation of a specific desire, you will feel that there are more and more of them. Therefore, write down on paper each of them.

Keep in mind that if you do not have a specific plan of action, then you are just a dreamer. This is the peculiarity of SMART technology. Nonetheless the technique does not make you “jump above your head” and does not require you to take such actions that you cannot perform. Therefore, this technology is based not only on certain expectations, but also on the factor that predicts the future, i.e., the final result. So, Let us consider in more detail what a SMART target is and what is its specificity.

1. First of all, you should worry about a specific desire.

2. You must measure the constructed model for a specific implementation.

3. You should be interested in the consistency of the project with the reality of execution.

4. It must be in reachable format.

5. Have a specific time frame.

If you agree with the formulation of the above parameters, then your correctly formulated goal will be achieved. Moreover, all points should be clear, and abstractions in this matter do not belong. Do not be afraid that setting a goal in this way will require a lot of time. Remember: there is no need to spare the time spent on that business, which will be very useful to you. In order to determine the goal and make it so that it does not “let you down” in the end, you need to “drive out” this goal for a number of signs, which are listed below.

Translated as "specifics." In this case you need to present in detail the final result in your mind, and also present with accuracy the moment that will allow you to describe it in detail. Therefore, try to imagine in detail what you want to receive. You need to take a piece of paper and write on it the correct desire. For example, you want to build back muscles and build biceps. It will be correct to write: increase the volume of the muscles of the back and neck.

You can not write like this: "increase the volume of the figure." Why is one entry correct and the other not? Because you can increase in volume anything, anything. For example, you can use body fat to increase the volume of the figure, but not get the result that you would like to get. Therefore, when wording words, do not use spatial descriptions. Use only the detailed description. In this case, it is better to act on the basis of such questions.

1. Which result will suit me the most?

2. Why do I need just such a result, and not any other?

Concretization always raises many questions. Therefore, you need to use, in addition to the above questions, 6 more that more clearly specify your goal.

1. Who else will take part in the action?

2. What do you need to get?

3. Where and with whom will you perform specific actions?

4. When do you plan to complete your business?

5. Why did you choose just such a goal, and not another?

Denotes “measurability”. I need this a measure so that you do not give up on your actions ahead of time. Therefore, choose, based on your goal, the most understandable quantitative or qualitative units. By the way, such a measure will help both in training and in sales.

Here is a life example: you must pass some very important testing on the subject. Take a piece of paper and write your wish. Remember, it must be specific. Correctly write: pass the exam in English at 100 points. Wrong to write like this: learn English.

Measurability of the result is very important in education. In order for the future applicant to be able to choose the right profession, he must measure all his capabilities. For example, if a future student does not know mathematics and physics, but enters the faculty where these subjects are necessary, then his chance to graduate from the university is significantly reduced.

Translated as "achievable." The goal in any case can be achieved or not achieved. According to the SMART methodology, this criterion should analyze and calculate the reality of the task. For example, if we talk about production, then this method can be applied specifically in personnel management.

The question is clearly: "Does a person have enough resources to achieve his goal?" For example, a leader should consider such a moment: choosing a manager to carry out any task, he should be sure that he has enough strength and knowledge to complete the task.

If the success of the enterprise depends on the fulfillment of the task, then this issue should be studied carefully. Therefore, the characteristic of the manager’s personal qualities should also be considered in more detail. Means The goal should be within your means. Therefore, it is necessary to calculate its reachability and adjust if necessary.

Know that if you set an unattainable goal, for example, to become a pilot, and your health is poor, then you will quickly be disappointed not only in the goal itself, but in life in general. However, this does not mean that you should not set ambitious goals. Aspiration is always a victory. To make it easier for you to achieve the desired result, simply break your goal into several stages and move gradually, thinking about your every step. For example, on a piece of paper write the correct phrase: "Sign up for ballroom dancing and start performing in front of the audience."

Defined as “consistency” or “importance”. This item is He will require the one who set the goal to personally ask himself the question: “Why do you need to achieve the goal that was set?”. If you know for sure that upon reaching the goal you will rise to a higher level, then you need to continue to act. You need to do this even when you are once again convinced that the goal is fully consistent with your desires and inner beliefs.

If you doubt something, then the victory will seem senseless to you. And if not, then your subconscious mind will somehow lead you to a true decision. Thanks to Relevant, you can focus your attention on your further aspirations and actions. In addition, if there is any doubt about the appropriateness of achieving the goal, a temporary pause is necessary. So you get some time to think about it, and then you can already make the right decision in one direction or another.

To more accurately understand what is at stake, it is necessary to give an example. Take a piece of paper and write on it a correctly formulated desire. It would be correct to write like this: “Sign up for design courses.But the wrong thought would be: "Become a designer." And why? Because, before becoming a specialist in any field, it is necessary to undergo training. It is well known that training requires energy and energy.

Translated as "time limited." This important point suggests that on the way to achieving the goal, it is very important to determine the timing of the task. If your actions along the path to the goal drag on indefinitely, then it is entirely possible that you will lose interest in both the actions themselves and the goal itself.

Imagine that you constantly postpone for an indefinite period of time the task. For example, you decide to make repairs in a small apartment that you acquired at a young age. If updating the interior turns into an endless process, then it comes to buying a new, more spacious apartment than before completing the repair.

Tip: when implementing a business that requires a lot of time, divide the implementation process into steps, and give each step an accurate, temporary setting. Again, you need to write down on paper all the actions that you are going to perform. Moreover, these actions must be recorded correctly. For example, it would be correct: “For 5 years, study diligently at the institute as a translator.” An incorrect entry will look like this: "Become a translator."

Naturally, as in any other business, SMART technology has its pros and cons. Not every person can use advice based on a special technique. In fulfilling any goal, it is the human factor that plays an important role. Even state-of-the-art technology will not be able to accurately calculate all the risks if it comes to human personal qualities. therefore always and everywhere you need to leave “loopholes” so that you can quickly adapt to the changing reality.

For example, the individual was going to go on vacation in the summer. For six months he decided on all the necessary points on the SMART system. However, people tend to get sick. A month before departure, this individual was seriously ill. He had to spend all his money to restore his health. There was no money left on vacation. Here is a concrete example of how circumstances can change that make all your actions meaningless.

However, it is not for nothing that psychologists say that you need to have positive thinking. We need to hope for the best and still make long-term plans. Therefore, SMART technology, in spite of everything, is an indispensable assistant when a person wants to achieve a goal. Here are the main positive features of SMART technology.

1. it practicality. Thanks to this trait, a person can draw up a plan of his actions and will know ahead of time in which direction he will move on.

2. it universality. This technology is suitable both for very important and busy people, and for those who set personal goals, which are the least important in comparison with other goals designed to solve large-scale tasks.

3. it detail. Thanks to a clear distribution of forces and capabilities, it is easier for a person to achieve a positive result. Moreover, all details are carefully thought out, thereby minimizing the risks that may arise as a result of rash decisions.

4. it availability. The method can be applied even by the most ignorant person in various modern techniques.

Separately, it is necessary to say about such a point as motivation, which consists of 2 parts.

1. A person internally gives himself an orientation to some action or inaction.

2. A person compares his abilities and abilities in order to achieve a specific goal.

Motivation is a positive experience that is associated with a desire to implement an idea. Motivation should also coincide with the inner culture of any person. Thanks to motivation, the person receives energy to activate his actions, which is immediately sent to achieve the goal. Attention becomes selective.

Each person needs to set stated goals. Only in this case will he consider himself a full-fledged personality who is striving for something. Any goal has an end result. Without this crucial point, it is impossible to achieve anything. If a person cannot concretize the path that leads him to a goal, then such a goal will not be a goal, but will remain only a beautiful dream.

The goal should not look abstract. Therefore, people came up with a goal setting system, namely, SMART technology. A smart system allows you not only to set goals, but also to plan your actions, which inevitably lead to results. So, where do you need to start in order to set a goal and start moving towards it? Let's start with the specifics, namely, we must understand what moment is of the greatest interest. Here it is necessary to understand and answer the question: “What do you most want?”

Then let's move on to measuring our strengths and capabilities. Remember that the main task is not to overdo it and not to overdo it when you move towards the goal. Next, we determine its reachability.

The urgency of the problem has not yet been canceled. If the deadline for completing the task has expired, then it is entirely possible that continuing to act further is useless. therefore it is necessary to determine the timing of the assignment. They must be accurate and consistent with the reality of execution. Correct goal setting is a moment that cannot be ignored because of its special importance. To make the goal different:

• specificity, it is necessary to answer the following questions: "What? When? How many?";

• measurability, it is necessary to determine the percentage, amount or kilogram;

• reachability, it should be one step closer and different in security of execution, everything should depend only on you;

• importance, you need to decide on the final result, its tangibility and value;

• limited in time, you must decide on the beginning of actions, the intervals between your actions and the final end.

SMART technology will work efficiently if you follow the instructions and follow it with precision. To do this, you need to study the methodology in detail. Particular attention should be paid to the rules for using the proposed method. What are they?

• Sure all write down. To do this, use a special notebook or diary. Let these items be colorful. They should differ in their unusual appearance from other stationery things of this orientation. If we talk about the records themselves, then they will always allow you to remember the task and the ultimate goal, as well as remember the conditions of implementation. Bottom line: the recording helps to focus on both the goal itself and the methods for its implementation.

• The importance of the desired - This is one of the most important conditions for achieving a goal. Your desire should not be secret. It should be balanced in all decisions. This condition provides a guarantee that you will always be focused on certain actions that bring you closer to the fulfillment of a desire.

• Do not get hung up on desire. If due to the changed circumstances you cannot continue dynamic actions on the way to the goal, then deviate from it.

• Tenacity Is a good feature. But if your perseverance is sprayed, and not aimed at solving a very important problem, then nothing will work.

• Still need to think about the feasibility of the task if it has lost relevance. In this case, you should not waste time and energy.